Syringe



Sept. 13, 193s. s, F, CLE 2,129,675

SYRINGE Filed June l2, 1935 h` A y A A 4 A. Y

Patented Sept. 13, 1938 cuire stares misi .egie` Application June 12,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid measuring devices of the character known as syringes, especially of the type adapted for use in the medical, and allied, professions for the handling, measuring, and administration of fluids.

The objects of the invention are: First, to provide a measuring device for uids adapted for maximum accuracy in the administration of drugs and medicines, and in the transfer and dispensing of fluids; second, to provide a device of the above character with which unusual accuracy may be attained without the inherent disadvantages of line graduations; third, to provide a device of the above character adapted to accurately discharge minute quantities of fluid; fourth, to provide a device of the above character wherein a single adjustment for volume suffices for repeated discharges of a predetermined quantity; fifth, to provide a device of the above character wherein a view of the plunger is unnecessary to an accurat-e adjustment for volume; and sixth, to provide a device of the above character wherein the barrel and plunger may be constructed either of glass or of metal. Other objects will be apparent upon the following disclosure of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, I have disclosed an embodiment of my invention which has proved satisfactory in actual use.

Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, of my invention provided with a glass barrel and plunger.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View, in section, on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 1 on line 3 3.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail showing the flexible tongue.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in section, of a modification provided with a metal barrel and plunger and with a resilient member engaging the plunger.

The principle of this invention comprises the use of a micrometrical member rotatably mounted upon the barrel of a syringe and adapted to limit the stroke of the plunger to control the volume of a uid admitted into, or ejected from, said barrel, and to simultaneously indicate the quantity of fluid thus admitted or ejected. A syringe constructed in accordance with this principlepermits accurate adjustment for volume without the necessity of viewing the plunger and therefore permits the substitution of opaque materials, such as certain plastic compounds and non- 1935, Serial No. 26,298

(Cl. 12S- 218) corrosive, or rustless, metals, for glass in the manufacture of the barrel and plunger. The use of non-breakable materials permits the construction of a syringe adapted to withstand thorough cleaning, rapid changes in temperature, sterili- Zation at high temperatures, 'and comparatively rough handling without danger'V of breakage. From the following description, it will be obvious that the plunger may be depressed with much greater exactitude by rotating the micrometrical member than by the use of the push-rod cf the plunger in the conventional manner.

Referring to the drawing: the numeral I indicates a glass cylindrical chamber, or barrel,

the lower end of which terminates in a discharge nozzle 2 which is adapted to accommodate the conventional hypodermic needle or the equivalent. Barrel I is graduated with the longitudinal' scale 3 which is intersected by the longitudinal index-line il. The upper portion of barrel I is circumferentially reduced to form the offset 5 upon which the exteriorly screw-threaded collar 6 is rmly cemented. The glass plunger "I is ground to a sliding t in the bore of barrel I and is provided with the flanged member 8 rmly attached to its upper end with the depending tubular extension 8 disposed within the plunger. This tubular extension is interiorly screw-threaded to accommodate the screw-threaded lower end of the detachable push-rod 9. The upper end of push-rod 9 is equipped with a suitable thumbrest I. A cylindrical micrometrical sleeve, composed of the upper tubular member Ia and the lower tubular member IIb, is concentric with` barrel I and rotatably mounted thereon as hereinafter described. The tubular members I la. and IIb are firmly connected by any suitable means, such as screws I 2, and function as a unitary member. When referring to these members jointly, the assembly will be designated as micrometrical sleeve I I. The lower end of the tubular member IIb is formed into the bevel I3 which is calibrated with the peripheral graduations I4 adapted to coact with scale 3 to indicate fractional parts of the individual graduations of said scale. The periphery of bevel I3 wiil be referred to' as knife-edge I5. The scale 3 is read with reference to knife-edge I5 whereas the graduations Il are read with reference to the indexline 4. Scale 3 and graduations I fl are obviously read in conjunction with oneanother and are provided with appropriate indicative numerals. The upper end of tubular member I la is provided with the knurled head, or cap, It formed with lthe upwardly extending axially disposed tubule II in which the push-rod 9 is slidably confined. When the diameter of cap I6 is considerable, the tubule II may be elongated and knurled as shown in Figure 5 by the numeral 39. This permits a more rapid rotation of sleeve II. The diameter of the upper end of the tubular member IIb is increased to form the hub I8 which accommodates the interiorly screw-threaded bearing I9 formed upon the lower end of the tubular member IIa. The outside diameter of the tubular member Ha, immediately above the upper end of the threaded bearing I9, is increased to correspond with the diameter of hub I8 and forms an annular stop 2D for hub I8. bearing I9 is housed within the hub I8 and is attached thereto by the screws I2 as hereinbefore mentioned. The threads on collar 6 engage the interior threads of bearing I9 and thereby adapt the micrometrical sleeve for rotatable movement on barrel I. The rotation of the micrometrical sleeve on collar 6 effects its longitudinal travel with reference to barrel I resulting in the registration of knife-edge I5 with thev graduations of scale 3 and in the alinement of graduations I4 with the index-line 4. The inside diameter of tubular member IIa above the threaded bearing I9, and of the tubular member IIb above the bevel I3, is increased to provide adequate clearance for the collar 6. The under side of cap I6 is formed with the depending annulus 2i concentric therewith and adapted for contact with the upper end of plunger 1. This construction minimizes the possibility of inaccuracy due to the accidental presence of foreign matter between cap IS and the top of plunger 'l and also reduces the friction between cap I6 and plunger l when the micrometrical sleeve II is used to depress the plunger. Cap I6 is obviously in fixed relation to knife-edge I5. It is provided with suitable vent-holes 22 to permit the escape of air from sleeve II upon the outward movement of the plunger. It will be clear from the foregoing that cap I6 intercepts plunger 'I upon its outward movement thereby functioning as an adjustable stop for the plunger and also as a means for engaging the plunger when rotating the sleeve to discharge a iiuid from the barrel. The length of sleeve II is such that, when knifeedge I5 registers with the bottom graduation of scale 3 on barrel I, the annulus 2I is in contact with the upper end of plunger 'I and the lower end of the plunger is in its lowest position. While the barrel may be graduated in the conventional manner, with the scale starting from the bottom of the barrel and therefore indicative of the position of the lower end of the plunger within the barrel, the method disclosed in Figure 1 is preferable owing to the fact that it affords a finger-grip upon the lower end of the barrel without obstructing a clear View of the graduations. From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the stroke of the plunger, and therefore the capacity of the barrel, is regulated by the position of sleeve II upon the barrel and that this sleeve functions simultaneously as an adjustable stop for the plunger, as a micrometer for accurately indicating the adjusted capacity of the barrel, or of the volume of a fluid discharged therefrom, and also as a means for depressing the plunger to effect the discharge of the fluid. The reading of the device is obviously made by noting the position of the knife-edge I5 with reference to the graduations of scale 3 simultaneously with the position of the graduations I4 with reference to the index-line 4. The

The threaded' pitch of the threads on collar 6, and in the threaded bearing I9, is preferably such that one complete revolution of sleeve II produces a longitudinal travel of knife-edge I5 exactly equivalent to the distance between any two adjacent graduations on barrel I. However, the pitch and the form of the thread may be varied to meet any given requirements. The graduations I4 are thus indicative of the distance traveled by knife-edge I5 with one revolution of sleeve II and thus of the corresponding fractional parts of the individual graduations of scale 3. Obviously, ne threads are indicated for the measurement of minute quantities and coarse threads for rapidity of operation. By the use of double, or triple, threads, the pitch may be increased without necessitating the use of coarse threads requiring correspondingly thick-walled members. Maximum speed of adjustment is attained by developing the screw-thread into a spiral groove. Suitable nger-grips 23 are shown attached to hub I8 but their location may be varied to suit requirements. In order to prevent the accidental rotation of sleeve II after its adjustment to a predetermined volume, a locking means is provided whereby the sleeve may be releasably secured in any desired position on barrel I. An efficient method of securing the sleeve II against accidental rotation involves slitting the threaded bearing I9 to impart iiexibility to a portion thereof and imparting a releasable pressure to said flexible portion to cause a frictional pressure between its threads, and the threads of collar 6, sufficient to retain the sleeve in its adjusted position on the barrel. While this may be accomplished in several similar ways, the form illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 disclose a satisfactory embodiment of the principle. In these gures, the numeral 24 indicates a iiexible tongue formed in the interiorly threaded bearing I9 by the parallel slits 25 and 25 which extend longitudinally for a distance slightly less than the length of the bearing. The outer surface of tongue 24 is flattened, said flattening being progressively deeper towards the inner end of the tongue thereby forming the outer surface of this member into an inclined plane with its thinnest end adjacent to tubular member IIa. 'Ihis construction imparts the Vnecessary flexibility to tongue 24. A longitudinally extending slot 26, somewhat less in width and length than tongue 24, is cut through the wall of hub I8 and is centered above tongue 24 when the tubular members I Ia and I Ib are assembled. Slidably mounted in slot 26 is the outwardly protruding knurled thumb-bar 21' which is integral with the wedgeshaped locking member 21. This is clearly shown in Figure 2 while the construction of tongue 24 is shown in Figure 4. The outer side of locking member 2 is given the same curvature as the inner surface of hub I8 while its under side is tapered to correspond with the inclined surface of tongue 24. Due to its greater Width than slot 26, the locking member 21 may readily be supported under said slot in sliding contact with the inclined surface of tongue 24. These features are clearly shown in Figure 3. A slight movement of the thumb-bar 21 in the direction of the nozzle suiilces to impart an inward movement to tongue 24 which forces the threads on its under surface into firm frictional contact with the threads of co-llar 6. This action effectively locks sleeve II against accidental displacement from its adjusted position.

The construction of my invention hereinbefore l 2,129,675 described may be modified by the substitution of a non-breakable barrel and plunger for the glass members described and also by the inclusion of a resilient member to automatically extend the plunger. There are numerous obvious advantages inherent in each of these modications.

Figure 5 illustrates these modifications. In this figure, the numeral 28 indicates a metal barrel corresponding to barrel i but Without the offset 5 and collar 6. Reciprocally mounted in barrel 2B is the metal plunger 29 which is preferably constructed of tubing but which may be of any .suitable construction to effect the purposes of the invention. The upper portion of barrel 28 is exteriorly screw-threaded to correspond to the threaded collar described in connection with Figure 1. These threads are indicated by the numeral 36. An annular anged member 3| is securely attached to the upper end of plunger 29 and is interiorly screw-threadedk to accommodate the screw-threaded lower end of the detachable push-rod 32. Member 3l differs from the corresponding member 8 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure l in that the flange extends radially beyond the side-wall of plunger 29 toform an annular seat for the upper end of the coil spring 33. This spring is mounted concentric with plunger 29 and bears, at its lower end, on the annular seat 34 formed by the inwardly projecting threaded bearing 35. Suitable washers 3l' and 3l" are attached to the upper and lower end respectively of spring 33. The diameter and length of the upper tubular member 36 is increased over the diameter and length of upper tubular member ila, of Figure 1, to accommodate the spring 33. Plunger 28 and push-rod 32 are also increased in length to correspond to the increase in the length of tubular member 36. The head, or cap, 38 is: interiorly screw-threaded to engage the upper end of tubular member Zit and is provided with the knurled tubule 39 which facilitates the rotation of the member. The glass barrel and plunger shown in FiguresI 1 and 2 are interchangeable with the metal barrel and plunger shown in Figure 5 and thereby adapt both modifications of the syringe for use with each type ci barrel and plunger.

rIhe operation of this invention is as follows:

The adjustment for Volume is made by rotating the micrometrical sleeve to bring the` knifeedge into correct registration with the desired graduation on the barrel. If the desired volume includes a fractional part of the quantity indicated by any single graduation, the sleeve is further rotated to bring the desired peripheral graduation on the sleeve into alinement with the index-line on the barrel. After the sleeve has been adjusted, it is locked in its adjusted position by the forward movement of the locking member. Thereafter, the barrel is lled by means of the plunger, and the attached push-rod, in the conventional manner except no further attention is required to volume until a change therein is desired. The plunger is merely pulled outwardly until it contacts with the cap upon the sleeve. If, however, it be desired to discharge a small quantity of the fluid contained within the barrel, or if it be desired to discharge the contents of the barrel slowly, the push-rod is not used after the barrel is charged but, instead thereof the sleeve is rotated towards the nozzle until the desired quantity of iiuid has been displaced. This method provides absolute control of the quantity and rate of discharge. 'Ihe modification ofthe device shown in Figure 1 is readily dismantled for cleaning and sterilizing by holding the sleeve and unscrewing the barrel, and then holding the plunger and unscrewng the push-rod. The modification shown in` Figure 5 is disassembled with equal facility by holding the sleeve and unscrewing the barrel, and then unscrewing the cap from the sleeve followed by unscrewing the push-rod from the plunger.

The foregoing disclosures have'clearly dened a measuring device for fluids which is adapted to` afford an accurate indication and effect the precise discharge of minute, or large, quantities of fluid without the difficulty, and possible inaccuracy, inherent in the use of fine graduations and incidental to the conventional methods.

The foregoing disclosures are not to be construed as limitations upon the inventive thought which forms the basis of this application, but merely illustrative of the principles involved. Numerous adaptions and modifications of the structures disclosed are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention and I claim all such adaptions and modications which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character describedcomprising in combination a cylindrical container provided with discharge means, a plunger reciprocally mounted in said container, an` adjustable plunger-stop, and a calibrated indicating member in threaded engagement with the container and adapted to automatically regulate the stop.

2. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe, a graduated indicating member adapted for registration with the graduations on the syringe, and means actuated by the indicating member to operate t-he syringe and to automatically regulate its capacity.

3. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe barrel, a plunger reciprocally mounted therein, a micrometrica] member rotatably mounted upon the syringe barrel and adapted for registration with the graduations thereon, and an adjustable stop for the plunger responsive to the micrometrical member.

4. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe barrel,

a plunger reciprocally mounted therein, a micrometer sleeve rotatably mounted upon the syringe barrel, graduations on the micrometer sleeve in cooperative relation with the graduations on the syringe barrel, meansin fixed relation to the micrometer sleeve, and responsive to the rotation thereof, to regulate the capacity of the syringe to coincide with the indicated volume.

5. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe barrel provided with discharge means, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the barrel, an oifset in said plunger, a graduated tubular member rotatably mounted upon the. syringe barrel and adapted to engage said offset to limit the stroke of the plunger, and means to prevent the accidental rotation of the tubular member.

6. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe barrel provided with a discharge member, a stepped plunger slidably mounted in said barrel, a threaded collar mounted upon the barrel, an interorly threaded tubular member in engagement with the threaded collar, means connected to the tubular member to regulate the plunger, and means to lock the tubular member `to the barrel.

'7. A device of the character described comprising in combination a syringe barrel provided with a discharge member, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the barrel, a push-rod connected to the plunger, exterior threads upon the barrel, an interiorly threaded tubular member in engagement with the threads on the barrel, graduations on the barrel and the tubular member, means controlled by the tubular member to regulate the stroke. of the plunger to vary the capacity of the barrel, means to prevent the accidental rotation of the tubular member, and linger-grips on the tubular member.

8. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe barrel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the syringe barrel, a push-rod connected to the plunger, threads upon the syringe barrel, a micrometer sleeve concentric with the syringe barrel, an interiorly threaded collar integral with the micrometer sleeve and adapted to engage the threads of the syringe barrel, graduations on the micrometer sleeve in cooperative relation with the graduations of the syringe barrel, an index line associated with the graduations on the syringe barrel, a plunger-stop actuated by the micrometer sleeve, and means for releasably connecting the micrometer sleeve to the syringe barrel.

9. A device of the character described comprising in combination a syringe barrel provided with a discharge member, a plunger recip-rocally mounted in the syringe barrel, a flange integral with the upper end of the plunger, a detachable push-rod for the plunger, exterior threads upon the syringe barrel, an interiorly'threaded tubular member in engagement with the threads on the syringe barrel, graduations on the syringe barrel and on the tubular member, an index line associated with the graduations on the syringe barrel, means responsive to the rotation of the tubular member adapted to vary the capacity of the syringe barrel in accordance with the indicated capacity of said barrel, a resilient member adapted to extend the plunger mounted concentrically therewith, and a lock for the tubular member.

10. A device of the character described comprising in combination a calibrated cylindrical member terminating in a nozzle adapted to ac.

commodate accessory discharge members, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylindrical member, a rotatable micrometrical member concentric with the cylindrical member, a longitudinal index-line intersecting the calibration on the cylindrical member, graduations upon the periphery of the micrometrical member adapted for registration with the index-line, the said calibrations on the cylindrical member being in cooperative. relation with the periphery of the micrometrical member and with the peripheral graduations on the micrometrical member for indicating a predetermined volume of uid, and means in cooperative relation with the micrometrical member and the cylindrical member to lock the micrometrical member in its adjusted position.

11. A device of the vcharacter described comprising in combination a syringe barrel the oppositely disposed ends `of which are provided with exterior threads and a discharge nozzle respectively, a stepped plunger reciprocally confined within the barrel, an interiorly threaded micrometer sleeve in engagement with the exterior threads, graduations on the barrel, a longitudinal index-line intersecting the said graduations, peripheral graduations on the micrometer sleeve, the periphery of the micrometer sleeve being adapted for registration with the graduations on the barrel coincidently with the alinement of the peripheral graduations with the index-line, a stop attached to the micrometer sleeve in fixed relation to the periphery thereof and adapted to regulate the movement of the plunger to control the capacity of the barrel and to discharge the contents therefrom, and means in cooperative relation with the barrel and the micrometer sleeve to lock same against accidental movement.

12. A device of the character described comprising in combination a syringe barrel provided with a discharge nozzle, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the barrel, graduations on the barrel, a micrometrical sleeve concentric with the barrel, screw-threads upon the barrel and within the micrometrical sleeve adapted for mutual engagement, graduations upon the periphery of the micrometrical sleeve in cooperative relation with the graduations on the barrel, a plungerstop in xed relation to the micrometer sleeve, a flexible locking member integral with the micrometrical sleeve and in contact with the threads on the barrel, and means to actuate the flexible locking member to secure the micrometrical sleeve against accidental movement.

13. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe barrel provided with a discharge nozzle, a longitudinal index-line intersecting the graduations on the barrel, exterior threads on the upper end of the barrel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the barrel, a tubular micrometer sleeve concen tic with the barrel and in cooperative relation with the graduations thereon, said micrometer sleeve consisting of an upper and a lower member, graduations on` the lower end of the lower member in cooperative relation with the longitudinal index-line, interior threads in the lower end of the upper member adapted to engage the threads on the barrel, a iiexible tongue integral with the threaded lower end of the upper member, a longitudinal slot through the upper end of the lower member positioned above the ilexible member, a wedge slidably coniined in the slot and adapted to depress the tongue to releasably secure the sleeve in locked engagement with the barrel.

14. A device of the character described comprising in combination a graduated syringe, a graduated member` in telescopic engagement therewith and rotatably adjustable for registration with the graduations thereon, and means responsive to the graduated member to regulate the capacity of the syringe, said means being optionally effective for discharging the contents of the syringe.

15. A device of the character described comprising in combination telescopically engaged members, the outer of said members being adjustable relative to the inner member, the inner member having a piston slidably mounted therein and a discharge means, a scale for the inner member provided with an index line and readable relative to the periphery of the outer member, the said periphery having circumferentially disposed graduations adapted for alinement with the index line to supplement the indications of the scale, means responsive to the outer member to regulate the piston to control the volume of liquid admitted into or discharged from the inner member in accordance with the indications of the scale and the peripheral graduations.

SAMUEL F. COLE. 

